Annette Badland, Brenda Blethyn, Ewan McGregor

Michael Caine was robbed of an Oscar. He gives his finest performance in a decade as big-talking small-time agent Ray Say, a paunchy, pale life of the party hiding his desperation under gold chains a...( read more  read more... )nd cool bravura. When he hears the almost magical voice of Jane Horrocks's meek little LV (short for Little Voice) fill her bedroom with the rich voice of Judy Garland, he sees his ticket to the big time. Little Voice is ostensibly LV's story, and in fact the original play was written for Horrocks, whose amazing vocal impressions of Garland, Shirley Bassey, and Marilyn Monroe (among others) form the centerpiece performance of the film. But as directed by Mark Herman (Brassed Off), the story of this mousy girl who shuts herself in from a bellowing world is just as overwhelmed by the bombastic characters as LV herself. Brenda Blethyn babbles a blue streak as LV's overbearing mother, Mari, an aging widow who escapes her unhappiness in carousing and becomes almost pathologically jealous when Ray's attentions turn from her to LV. As Ray puts his dreams on the line for LV's showcase, he reveals his true self: a venal man who spits and barks out his bottled-up anger in an astoundingly bile-filled delivery of Roy Orbison's "It's Over." The showstopping moment once again overwhelms LV's tale, but Caine's performance is so astounding it seems a fair trade. --Sean Axmaker

Flixster Users

68% liked it

10,105 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

34 critics

R, 96 min.

Directed by: Mark Herman

Release Date: December 4, 1998

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DVD Release Date: January 15, 2002

Stats: 475 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (475)


  • March 22, 2009
    Wonderful impersonations but otherwise a mediocre movie.
  • September 26, 2008
    The actress who played LV was amazing. I hated her mother by the end and I'm glad she finally had it out with her. Ewan McGregor was so adorable.
  • June 14, 2008
    Excellent story about a timid girl with an amazing voice. Great cast.
  • June 8, 2008
    Jane Horrocks was Brilliant!

    I was damn well annoyed and surprised that she was not nominated for more major awards, particularly as the film showcased her uncanny and amazingly precise vocal impressions...she was quite simply flawless...Michael Caine gave a fantastic perfo...( read more)rmance as well, very cunning and emotional...
  • May 9, 2007
    Jane Horrocks is AMAZING as the meek young woman who is able to sing in the voices of her heroes -- Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland. Brenda Blethyn as her braying ass of a mother and Michael Caine as the has-been (or is it never-was) promoter trying to get rich of...( read more)f Little Voice, known as LV, if he can only get her out of her room. But she'll only sing for one man.
  • November 16, 2009
    Another great British film which focuses on the character development as well as the plot and script. Horrocks is superb in both guises of her character. She plays the shy, selective mute with such care and the singing is spot on. She honestly sounds like the people she is impers...( read more)onating. Blethyn shows off her talents too as the overbearing mother and by the end you really begin to hate her. Caine and Broadbent add well to the proceedings.
  • November 15, 2009
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch......its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that jane horrocks, michael caine, phillip jackson, ewan mcgregor, annette badland, brenda blethyn play good roles...( read more)/parts thorughout this movie...i think that the director of this drama movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie.....i think that this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch its a really good movie with a good cast thorughout this movie its enjoayble but this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch with a good cast
  • August 17, 2009
    A cure for insomnia.
  • August 4, 2009
    you'll love this one
  • March 22, 2009
    The only thing that was good about this movie was the music.

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